Teammates at Man United, rivals at Afcon, Amrabat and Hannibal have silverware in sight

All things going to plan, February might be a very special month indeed for Sofyan Amrabat and Hannibal Mejbri. The target: two finals in 14 days. The aim: gold medals at the end of them, one for country, one for club. On the second aspiration, the pair have a common focus.

On Tuesday at Old Trafford, Amrabat made his first start for Manchester United, and by the time he was substituted, a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace to begin United’s defence of the English League Cup secured, he could hear sustained, heartfelt applause for a performance of resourcefulness and authority.

Hannibal, meanwhile, was making his first home start for United. He distinguished the landmark occasion with trademark energy.

The 20-year-old has been part of United’s set-up, rising through the youth ranks, long enough to be recognised and admired for his high work-rate.

He knows that being in the line-up at the start of this senior League Cup campaign gives him a chance of still being there when it ends. If United make the final, that’s at Wembley on February 25.

Two weeks earlier in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, there’s the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, and for Morocco’s Amrabat, a star of the last World Cup, pursued by United keenly since then and finally transferred from Serie A’s Fiorentina on loan at the tail-end of August, the intention is to be at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium that evening.

In his mind's eye, he'll be commanding midfield and extending Morocco’s momentum from Qatar 2022, when they became the first African or Mena team to reach a World Cup semi-final.

Morocco are ranked the best men’s national side in Africa by Fifa; Hannibal’s Tunisia are two spots behind. Both countries are on the rise, with ambitions to win next year’s